The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-05-26
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How TO Obtain this Best Results from
Feeding wholesome Ensflage.
The results obtained from feeding en-
silage to s~tore-cattle, fattening cattle,
and young stock, are most satisfac-
tory. Fed to mich COWS and dry COWS
approaching calving there may DO
some question as to its universal bene-
fit Its usefulness and safety as fed to
these classes of stock depends upon its
quality, upon the quantity fed and
upon what is fed with it to make a
properly balanced ration. We soc no
reason to doubt that sour ensilage fed
in large quantities. with little or no
hay, and onlya little wheat bran or
middlings, will aus weakly calves
and other evils. Even sour ensilage.
if we'll aired, mixed with one-third cut
hay, and the mass mixed with a moder-
ately liberal grain ration, say two
quarts corn-meal, four quarts bran
Dr. middlings and one quart cot
ton-seed meal daily, will have
no evil effect, but on the contrary, a
very favorable one as q general rule;
but if the ensilage is very sour the
flavor of the butter may be unfavora-
bly, affected. It is, however, easy to
secure sweet ensilage.
All that is. necessary is to fill the silo
slowly enough for the whole mass to
heat as the silo is filed. It will moi do
to trust to the sense of feeling; a Their
mometer must be used and the temper.
ature taken two or three feet below the
surface and in the The heat
must rise ali over to not less than 125
degrees. This destroys the germs Of
fungus life (bacteria), and when the
air is excluded all fermentation stops.
and the ensilaee remains just as it is
sweet and palatable as fresh corn fod.
der, only partly cooked and softened. ;
Ensilage prepared in this way is de-
cidedly preferable even to ste famed
corn fodder. Il is more palatable,
equally nutritious, and probably more
SO, and is eaten with a keener relish.
Dry corn fodder occupies fully -four
times, and in many cases five times,
the space occupied by ensilage. The
early silos were very extensively
built, being of brick or stone and ce.
mented. Modern silos are in many
cases entirely above ground. of wood.
and no more expensive than a good
ice-house, which they greatly resem.
BILE. The foundation should be Of
stone, topped with good sills-24 to 8.
inch plank will do-and the frame
raised upon this, balloon" style.
| When the frame is up, cover the inside
with sheathing. paper and tight board,
ing. the outside with any good lap.
siding. The door goes from top to
bottom, being composed of three shut
tiers for the outside and NOV.
able boards between cleats fol
the inside. The walls should
be sixteen feet high. with a good roo
over all. Under the roof. planks form.
ing a platform may be placed for con
venience of handling and storing the
weights, if weights be used. Wher
filed the contents are leveled of, coy
cred with tarred paper as nearly ali
tight as possible, this kept in place BY
| planks laid close, with weights upor
these. The most convenient weight.
are small strong barrels, filed will
gravel and headed up. Hiram Smith
Of Sheboygan. instead of weights, use;
| six inches of sawdust.
| Corn sowcd for ensilage is no longel
drilled in at the rate of two bushels O.
more to the acre, and cut when the ear
are just in the silk; but fourteen quarts
is enough. The plants should stant
not less than six inches apart in tn
drills, and not be cut until the ears, o
which there will be fully half as man.
as if the corn were planted in hills, ar
we'll glazed. At this period the stalk
contain the most sugar, and thougl
the tax upon the land is much greater
the value of the crop is greater in pro
portion. -Amertcan Dairyma,a